diff --git a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakekitinformation.cpp b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakekitinformation.cpp
index cd48f80f7b9..a0266d433c2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakekitinformation.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakekitinformation.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include <projectexplorer/projectexplorerconstants.h>
 
 #include <utils/algorithm.h>
+#include <utils/environment.h>
 #include <utils/qtcassert.h>
 
 using namespace ProjectExplorer;
@@ -168,6 +169,13 @@ QVariant CMakeGeneratorKitInformation::defaultValue(const Kit *k) const
     QStringList known = tool->supportedGenerators();
     auto it = std::find_if(known.constBegin(), known.constEnd(),
                            [](const QString &s) { return s == QLatin1String("CodeBlocks - Ninja"); });
+    if (it != known.constEnd()) {
+        Utils::Environment env = Utils::Environment::systemEnvironment();
+        k->addToEnvironment(env);
+        const Utils::FileName ninjaExec = env.searchInPath(QLatin1String("ninja"));
+        if (ninjaExec.isEmpty())
+            it = known.constEnd(); // Ignore ninja generator without ninja exectuable
+    }
     if (it == known.constEnd())
         it = std::find_if(known.constBegin(), known.constEnd(),
                           [](const QString &s) { return s == QLatin1String("CodeBlocks - Unix Makefiles"); });